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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-17-2006 01:57 PM

Vasco

Why would what others spend affect you? Living aboard is no different from living ashore as far as money goes. Some spend a lot, some spend a little. A lot to some people is a little to others. A little to some is a lot to others. It's all pretty subjective. I see this topic come up over and over again in sailing forums with no definitive answer because there is none. If you want to know how much it's going to cost for you to live aboard just work it out. Same as living ashore, depends totally on your means and lifestyle.

10-17-2006 01:40 PM

Pirate's Booty

Yep. But, there are not that many available. Some of my neighbors pay even less as they can't raise the rent that much unless there is a change of ownership - or so the office claims. The people before me in my slip paid about $50 less per month.

10-11-2006 03:42 PM

Curt

You can get a 40 foot live aboard slip in Marina Del Rey for $600 a month?

10-11-2006 03:10 PM

Pirate's Booty

4th Month aboard and lovin' it!

Hi guys,

I just moved onto a 1970 Uniflite 36' Houseboat and I just love waking up on the water - my expenses went a little higher than I had expected, but hey I am in Southern California and it is still sunny and warm here. Ask grandma to send cash for my birthday

Total = $1,430 or so (extra things are still cropping up as I go along)

But, I do not have a phone line on the boat (just use my cell) and no cable or internet. I cut out most of the extras in my life for now and just pay for food, car, etc...

Hope this helps. You should really go for it, I love going home every night to my little floating palace. I work on it every weekend, it is my "first home".

10-11-2006 08:37 AM

Kernix

Toyboat & Smart Captain:

You guys mention insurance at $200-$266. Is that boat insurance or health insurance.

Esconditas:

I'm not sure how you can say that it is the same as living on land in a house or apt? I'm paying $725/mo for rent, utilities avg $75, car insurance is $100/mo, gas for car is at least $100/mo with moderate driving. I plan on living on the hook most of the time as I am a photographer and I will be constantly moving docking only to take more pics on land - plus I'll have pics that I can take from my boat as well as any islands I can row to. That's how will be making my money.

I was just talking to a buddy about a guy he met here in Philly that rents a slip under the Ben Franklin Bridge - $400/mo which includes electric, cable and high speed internet. If I keep my car that's a $400/mo reduction in expenses - $4800 annually. If I don't keep my car - $600/$7200 reduction in expenses. Living on the hook reduces those expenses even more - let's say by another $200 - $800/$9600 reduction. And living in a happening section of Philly with one bar that sells nothing but Belgium beer, other imports, and micro brewery beer - AND a club that features live original music - AND a bar that has 10 flat screens withthe ability to broadcast every football game at the same time - my "entertainment" expenses are very, very high. Gladly give that up or reduce - it's hard though - there's so many hot babes here in the Manayunk section of Philly. And that reduction would be easily be another $300 per month - that's now a reduction of $1100/mo or $13,200 annually.

So are you saying that all those reductions will be offset by $13,200 in boat maintenance and repair? I can see my health insurance will cut into that $1100 by ~ $200, but are you sure about all of that?

Anyone else's thoughts? Just need to know the reality so that I have the proper game plan

And to the 25 footer - you'll really need to go minimalist - I'm going to start on a Catalina 30 at first. I figure with my reduced expenses and photo revenues that I'll upgrade after "x" number of years.

Jim

10-10-2006 08:54 AM

Esconditas

Living aboard a boat will cost about the same as living on land. If you have a big boat it will be the same as having a big house. A new house will cost less to maintain than a old one... same with boats. The only advantage may be property tax or lack of. So Ken, you have answered your own question.

CapnTerral: a 25 foot sail boat is more like camping than living aboard. Maybe consider a little bit larger boat.
Jim

10-06-2006 03:03 PM

CapnTerralAargh

Now THIS is a thread I can get into. I'm looking to buy a used sailboat (at least 25ft) to live on within the next six months in the Pensacola area. "Much to learn, I still have."

09-13-2006 03:19 PM

SmartCaptain

Hi Ken,
I've lived aboard full-time on a 38' sailboat for two years now. I summer in New England and winter in the FL Keys. I travel about 3500 miles per year, motoring approximately 20% of the time.

My boat-specific expenses are as follows:

General boat depreciation: $400/month. My boat is almost 20 years old. Something is always wearing out or breaking. You also have to build in depreciation on sails, motor, and all of your systems. Pay attention to basic maintenance and you'll save big $$$ by preventing problems.

Insurance: $200/month. Shop around - prices vary greatly.

Fuel: about 150 gallons - call it $500 per year at current prices

Haul-out and bottom job - $1500 every two years. I have a full keel - takes lots of paint.

Marinas - avoid them and you'll save big $$$. Buy the biggest anchor you can handle. I live on the hook most of the time. Some areas (e.g. Key West FL, Marathon FL, charge for tying up your ding ($70/month).

Pump outs - New England pump outs are free (tip the operator $5 or $10) but FL charges ($10). I get a weekly pump-out. Don't skip this - FL has stiff penalties if they catch you with an open through-hull to your holding tank.

Water - Marathon FL was the only place I ever visited in the US that charges for water .05/gallon nominal fee.

This is for a large boat in Seattle - on Lake Union.
And, of course, the cost of the boat would need to be factored in.

Hope that helps...

01-14-2006 01:13 AM

WHOOSH

Very curious about expenses

Ken, while that question is more specific, the answer remains somewhat ''it depends''. You do sound like someone with economical tastes and lifestyle, and the fact your boat is small certainly helps...but over any meaningful period of time (let''s assume 1 year), significant variables can still make quite a difference.

Will you be sailing regularly and/or over longer distances? If so, the boat''s gear will wear faster and so maintenance costs increase. Will your engine be your only source of DC power aboard while primarily anchoring out? If so, that will add a bit of diesel fuel and maintenance costs (filters, lube oil) to the budget (vs. e.g. having sufficient solar panels to meet your needs). What condition is the engine in? You may not really know, as often it isn''t until one starts relying on systems regularly that problems make themselves known.

Bottom line: You may find you spend <$100/month initially, if you stay in one place and your boat starts out in good shape...or it could be more than that. As a general thumb rule, longer term (over a period of a few years plus), full-time cruisers report a boat''s annual budget typically is ~5% of the value of the boat. Boats that are used offshore sometimes will require ~10%.

Jack

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